May Madness: Nation’s Top Goalies Take Center Stage in NCAA Quarterfinals

Historically, the nation's top lacrosse teams may not always have the best goalie, but this year might be an exception. Six goalies ranked in the top 10 of Division I in goals against average will be taking the field in this weekend's quarterfinals, and any one of them has the ability to take over a game and help her team move onto Championship Weekend in Stony Brook.

“You want your goalie going into NCAAs confident, playing well and feeling connected with her defense,” says North Carolina coach Jenny Levy, whose goalie, junior Lauren Maksym ranks third in Division I in goals against average. “You never know if that can be the margin of victory in one goal win or a one goal loss.”

For North Carolina, this especially rings true last season, where a Shannon Smith goal with 18 seconds remaining gave Northwestern an 11-10 win and cost the Tar Heels a chance to play for a national championship.

“Our loss to Northwestern in the final four wasn't a particularly great game for [Maksym],” says Levy. “On my field, I don't have to tell anyone they haven't played well and she would probably be the first to tell me 'I stunk today.' The next step was looking at how we want to work on not being there again and finding the positives and she was able to do that.”

Perhaps the most memorable recent performance in which a goalie stole the show in the NCAA Tournament is Northwestern's Morgan Lathrop in 2009. Lathrop made 11 saves, including three in the first overtime of the Wildcats 13-12 semifinal win over Penn. Looking at this year's tournament, Penn's Emily Leitner and Loyola's Kerry Stoothoff put on a show in Sunday's first round game. Stoothoff was especially effective, making two saves in overtime, the second of which started the play that led to Hannah Schmitt's goal in transition that stood as the game-winner.

“I think whether its the regular season or playoffs, you look across the board and when you have a good goalie and they're on a roll that's a huge advantage for your team,” says Florida coach Mandee O'Leary. “You certainly want your team peaking at the right time and that includes goalies as well.”

O'Leary's top goalie, junior Mikey Meagher, ranks No. 1 in the nation in both goals against average and save percentage. After serving in more of a backup role to Cara Canington as freshmen in 2010, Meagher beat Canington out for the starting job last season and while Meagher has been the starter this season, O’Leary knows she has a go-to player in Canington if needed.

“I think that competition between Cara and Mikey has really helped Mikey and made both of them into better goalies,” O’Leary says. “It’s also helped Mikey to have a defense in front of her that’s played for three seasons.”

Meagher is part of a defense that has played together since the team’s inaugural season in 2010 and now ranks at the top of Division I, allowing just 6.40 goals per game. The nation’s other top goalies have certainly also benefitted from having a strong defense in front of them.

Northwestern’s Brianne LoManto, who ranks second among DI goalkeepers, has the nation’s No. 3 defense in front of her, which includes Tewaaraton finalist Taylor Thornton and a four-year starter in Lacey Vigmostad. At North Carolina, Maksym has transitioned this year from playing behind a veteran defense to playing with two freshmen, a sophomore and a senior in her first year as a starter. The Tar Heels’ defense ranks second in the nation.

As this weekend’s quarterfinals get underway, eight goalies will be in the spotlight. Here’s a look at the matchups.

Penn State at Florida

Florida got the best of the Nittany Lions 20-11 in the regular season matchup between these two conference foes, but that doesn’t necessarily mean the Nittany Lions will be an easy out for Florida on Saturday. Penn State was plagued by undisciplined play in the first game, losing sophomore defender Lizzy Carney and senior defensive leader Colleen Shea to yellow cards. Goalie Dana Cahill, who still made 11 saves in the loss and ranks fourth nationally in total saves, will have her hands full with Florida’s talented shooters, but is quite capable of keeping the Nittany Lions in this game.

On the other end, Meagher should be tested by a Penn State offense that works well around the crease. Meagher has quick hands and makes good decisions on clears, which should help give the Gators a spark in transition.

Loyola at Maryland

The Greyhounds strength is in their defense, which is backed by senior goalie Kerry Stoothoff.
“Kerry really knows how to upset top shooters,” Loyola coach Jen Adams says. “She's a goalie that actually needs to be scouted against because she is so solid."

On the other end, Maryland senior goalie Brittany Dipper is a reigning first-team All-American and IWLCA Goalie of the Year. Her numbers are slightly lower than they’ve been in past seasons, but she’s also playing in front of a much younger defense in 2012. Iliana Sanza is the only other player on the unit with experience as a starter. Junior Melissa Diepold has been an impact player in her first season in a starting role and the Terps other two defenders are freshmen Meg Douty and Shanna Brady. Dipper has been the constant, and will have the advantage against a young Loyola offense on Saturday.

North Carolina at Syracuse

Potentially three goalies could be seen in this one as Syracuse has relied on both Alyssa Constantino and Kelsey Richardson throughout the season. Constantino has been the starter and has seen the majority of the time, particularly in the playoffs, but Richardson is capable of giving the Orange a spark and has been inserted into a game in the second half unless the coaching staff thinks Constantino is on a roll.

Coach Gary Gait said earlier this season that the goal was to have a save percentage above 50 percent between the two and both Constantino and Richardson have exceeded that goal.

Levy said Syracuse’s offense will certainly put pressure on her defense and Lauren Maksym on Saturday. She’s been working with Makysm on staying loose and incorporating some fun elements into this week’s prep.

“It’s a long season and you have to keep them fresh and do some things that are challenging and continue to work on quickness and the ability to see the ball,” says Levy. “But at the same time you have to have fun with it. If you’re constantly in prep mode, you don’t release yourself to play.”

Duke at Northwestern

Duke’s Mollie Mackler and Northwestern’s Brianne LoManto will duke it out in the final quarterfinal game this weekend. While Duke has had its ups and downs throughout this season, the defense has been the strength led by juniors Mie Graham and Lauren Martin and sophomore Taylor Virden. Senior goalie Mollie Mackler ranks ninth nationally in Division I, backing the tenth-ranked defense as they head to Evanston to take on a powerful Northwestern attack.

LoManto will see a Duke offense that has changed a bit since she helped hold them to five goals in the regular season matchup. A lefty, LoManto has the ability to spark the defense and has come up big in key moments in games.